Wednesday, 17 October 2007

The current concern with extending the debate on site and identity has proved to be supported by something that could be called artistic relational practices. Many artists investigate processes of interchange (based or not on commercial interchange) as an end to their artistic production, more than they invest solely in an object oriented practice. Conversations and, in general, any kind of social interchange are considered to be relevant artistic methodologies, as well as engaging others in the artistic experience. But these processes have not necessarily been fully evaluated in terms of their aesthetic repercussions; neither have their social implications have been entirely demystified.It is therefore necessary to instigate a debate on this territory, attempting, on the one hand, to unveil the pitfalls of excessive welldoing expectations attributed to socially engaging art practices, at the same time that, on the other hand, the scope of the so called “relational aesthetics” and its importance for today’s artists needs to be investigated. Gabriela Vaz-Pinheiro holds a Sculpture Degree from the Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto; European Scenography Master of Arts from Central Saint Martin’s College; Theory and Practice of Public Art & Design Master of Arts from Chelsea College of Art & Design. PhD by Project from Chelsea College, with thesis: Art from Place: the expression of cultural memory in the urban environment and in place-specific art interventions. Scholar from Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (FCG), Secretaria de Estado da Cultura, Contemporary Art Society and The London Institute. She has a continuous involvement in interdisciplinary seminars and publishes in international art and art research magazines. Exhibits, in group and individually, as Gabriela Vaz since 1985, both in Portugal and abroad, holding some Awards and Honorary Mentions. Her most recent work deals with the repositioning of concepts such as: locality and the revocation of local iconologies, everyday narratives, territory and fluidity. Some of these questions take the shape of place-specific interventions both in Portugal and abroad.GABRIELA VAZ-PINHEIRO (PT) Artista e Investigadora Curadora, Moderadora e Responsável Editorial DESVIOS / DETOURSESPAÇOS RELACIONAIS: O NOVO CAMPO EXPANDIDO PARA A ARTE E PENSAMENTO A actual preocupação com o alargamento do debate sobre o lugar e a identidade tem sido apoiada por algo que se poderá chamar de práticas artísticas relacionais. Muitos artistas investigam processos de intercâmbio (baseados ou não em intercâmbio comercial) como um fim para a sua produção artística, mais do que investem numa prática orientada exclusivamente para o objecto. Conversas e, no geral, qualquer tipo de intercâmbio social podem ser considerados como metodologias artísticas relevantes, tal como o é envolver os outros no experienciar da arte. Mas estes processos não foram ainda inteiramente avaliados em termos das suas repercussões estéticas, nem as suas implicações sociais foram completamente desmistificadas.É, por isso, necessário instigar um debate neste território, procurando, por um lado, denunciar as armadilhas das excessivas expectativas do bem-fazer imputadas às práticas artísticas com envolvimento no social, ao mesmo tempo que, por outro lado, o alcance da chamada “estética relacional” e da sua importância para os artistas de hoje precisa de ser investigado.